Two Arabian Knights (1927)

Produced by Howard Hughes, this terrific silent film won its director, Lewis Milestone, the one and only Best Director, Comedy Picture Academy Award ever given. It stars William Boyd ("Hop-Along Cassidy") and Louis Wolheim as two American soldiers during World War I who rescue an Arabian princess (Mary Astor). Also featured is Boris Karloff. Donald McGibney's story was adapted by Wallace Smith and Cyril Gardner, with continuity provided by James O'Donohoe and titles by George Marion Jr..The film opens with soldiers Boyd and Wolheim jumping into a foxhole to temporarily escape certain death at the hands of the invading German army. Evidently, Private Boyd resents the treatment he's received from his Sergeant (Wolheim) and decides, given their situation, that he may as well get his licks in on his superior officer for a change. The two men fight for a while before the German troops literally surround their foxhole and take them prisoner. Still battling, they are marched through a town and then out through the snow to a remote camp for prisoners of war.Once at the camp, the prisoners are lined up and relieved of their valuables by the German Commandant. However, unbeknownst to each other, Boyd and Wolheim pickpocket back the other's possessions taken. In the delousing station, Boyd draws a cartoon of one of the German officers which Wolheim finds amusing, but when Wolheim is about to be reprimanded by the officer, Boyd admits that the sketch was his and takes the punishment instead. Thus, the two men's bond is formed, and then solidified when they exchange each other's pilfered trinkets.The American prisoners decide that they will work together to escape. However, when they do, and because they used white robes to avoid detection in the show, they inadvertently become prisoners again in a line of Arabs about to be transported by train to Turkey. There are a lot of comic bits sprinkled throughout their exploits. For instance, the men's robes were frozen askew at the bottom like dresses whence they were hiding in the snow. Then, when the men are being held inside with the other Arabs before boarding the train, this ice melts and a German guard, who slips on the dripping water, assumes the men have being urinating on themselves.Like a regular comedy team, Boyd is the "brains" while Wolheim is the "brawn". After riding in the Arab prison train until they're almost to Constantinople, the men escape into a horse drawn carriage of hay, but quickly find themselves "stranded" on a cargo ship in the Mediterranean. When they are discovered as stowaways, the Greek (?) Captain demands fare and the soldiers give them all they have to stay on-board. At that moment, a small boat capsizes next to theirs and, seeing that no one else is helping them, Boyd jumps in to save its former occupants. However, he must then be saved by Wolheim, who also jumps in.One of the persons rescued is a veiled Arabian princess (Astor), who naturally attracts the attention of the Captain and the two soldiers. There are then several comic exploits between the men who compete for her attention, with (pretty boy?) Boyd "winning" her heart. But alas, once the ship is anchored, she is retrieved by the sheik whom her father has arranged as her betrothed.Will true love triumph? Will the Americans be able to rescue the princess from her fate? One things for sure, this is a very entertaining and amusing film.

William Boyd and Louis Wolheim are the "Two Arabian Knights" referred to in the title, humorously. The pair start out as U.S. POWs trying to escape from the Germans during World War I. Eventually, they find themselves on board a ship bound for Arabia. While tripping out to the Middle East, they rescue an Arab woman, Mary Astor, who turns out to be a Princess; and, of course, becomes a romantic interest for the "Two Arabian Knights". No points for guessing who wins the veiled Ms. Astor!The film is very well photographed and directed; Lewis Milestone has wonderful sets, and stages scenes beautifully. Of the performances, Mr. Wolheim stands out - he creates a character so understandable you can almost hear him speak, trough the film is silent. The story isn't as strong as it could be - there are some events and sequences which had me wondering how and why the characters' locale changed. The last looks, exchanged between one of the stars and an extra, is an example of something I didn't understand. Perhaps these were comic bits which had a particular appeal for the time.The film is damaged in several places; but there is enough preserved, in even these scenes, to allow your mind to fill in the visual blanks. Boris Karloff appears as the "Purser"; watch for his big scene on ship, when Wolheim goes into a room with him for some money (what actually happens is a mystery). Early in the film, there is a long scene with a lot of naked men shown from the waist up (or, thereabouts); they are POWs being herded to the showers. Director Milestone uses parades of soldiers moving to great effect; this "shower" scene is different in that several of the men don't look as Caucasian as you might expect.******* Two Arabian Knights (9/23/27) Lewis Milestone ~ William Boyd, Louis Wolheim, Mary Astor

Turner Classic Movies showed this silent, B&W flick today (Aug 29, 2007) on TV.Solid classic adventure story, complete with all of the key ingredients: exotic plot locations, a beautiful woman in peril, a pair of dauntless and resourceful heroes (one of them handsome, the other colorful) grossly outnumbered by badguys, sprinkled with comic relief. Great costumes and sets; as good or better than those of current movies. Surprising variety of camera craft and directorship; pans and zooms including overhead angles, and closeups of key characters and objects. In this regard again it seems like a modern movie! Actions convey the story very well; without the benefit of a soundtrack. Of course, this entails a considerable degree of live type acting (similar to that seen in plays), but I did not get a feeling of melodrama like is all too common in most silent films and early sound movies.The most enjoyable performance is played by Louis Wolheim as the rough edged but colorful Sgt. Peter O'Gaffney, who was *perfectly* casted for the role; considering both appearance and skill.There were at least a few peculiar facts about Muslim society that I had previously learned over the past several years, which added to my appreciation of the story in the area of historical accuracy.My favorite scene was when the heroes are fleeing a swarm of dangerous, sword wielding Arabs through the narrow streets of a busy Muslim city. Suddenly though the chase is interrupted by an oblivious imam who pops out onto an exterior balcony to announce that it's time for afternoon prayer. Everyone out on the streets (except for the heroes) religiously obeys Islamic law and momentarily kneels down, which allows the heroes to escape. That scene was just one example of the film's many expressions of originality.After seeing this movie I better realize how extensively modern movies contain rehashed ideas that were pioneered decades earlier.

Like TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS, a couple of American soldiers attempt the daring rescue of a Middle Eastern princess from a loveless betrothal.Producer Howard Hughes became a Hollywood power with the very successful release of this, his third motion picture. Thought lost for decades, this wonderful silent comedy has recently been rediscovered & restored and given a splendid orchestral score by Robert Israel. Directed with verve by Lewis Milestone and greatly benefiting from William Cameron Menzies' art direction, the high jinks & high adventure of this antique buddy film are once again ready to delight the viewing audience.Clean-cut private William Boyd and plug-ugly sergeant Louis Wolheim battle Germans, Arabs and each other across Europe, the Mediterranean and into Palestine. They make a terrific comedy duo, constantly involved in one-upmanship and dangerous exploits whether in a POW camp, on a prisoner train, aboard a tramp steamer, or in a Moslem souk and emir's palace. Wolheim, with his hilariously expressive face, has a slight advantage in the scene stealing category, while Boyd has the upper hand in the romantics department.Mary Astor, as the endangered princess, is the willing recipient of Boyd's attentions. Her role doesn't give her a great deal to do except look lovely & alarmed, but these she carries off admirably.In the supporting cast, Michael Visaroff is the black hearted ship's captain who comes into conflict with Boyd & Wolheim; look fast for Boris Karloff as his purser. Dashing Ian Keith nicely plays the young Arab chieftain who will stop at nothing to make Astor his bride.At various points throughout the movie the viewer will notice the deterioration of the film stock, showing that TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS was indeed rescued, like the princess, just in time.